Patent GB-898020-A (GB)
Title: Vacuum cleaners
IPC: A47L5/30
Filed: 1960-09-12
Abstract: 898,020. Vacuum cleaners; air filters. ELECTROLUX CORPORATION. Sept. 12, 1960 [Oct. 29, 1959; Dec. 28, 1959], No. 31287/60. Classes 8(1) and 8(2). [Also in Group XXIX] A vacuum cleaner comprises a body member, means for movably supporting the body member on a substantially horizontal surface, dust separating means within the body member, the latter being formed with an inlet opening communicating with the dust separating means, a motor-fan unit within the body member for inducing flow of air through the inlet, a suction nozzle, a suction conduit connected to the nozzle, means for removably securing the nozzle to the body member in position to be moved therewith over the surface and with the conduit communicating with the inlet, an agitator in the nozzle, an electric motor in the nozzle for driving the agitator, and separable electric contacts on the nozzle and on the body member, respectively, connectable when the nozzle is secured to the body member. In one embodiment, Figs. 8 and 12, a vacuum cleaner unit 210 is supported on wheels 212 and 214 and houses a dust bag 230 disposed within a perforated inner body 228, and a fan 226 driven by an electric motor 224. The bag 230 is secured to a disc 232 which is clamped to a portion 216 of the unit 210 by means of a sealing ring 236 mounted on a conduit 238 of a front cover 240. The latter is pivoted to pins 244 on the unit 210 and is held in its closed position by a spring-loaded latch 248 engaging a keeper 250 on the unit. The latch has a button 252 thereon for manually disengaging the latch. A diaphragm 256 is disposed within a chamber 258 and is connected to the latch 248 by a pin 260 and the chamber is connected by means of a conduit 262 to a control member 266, (see Group XXIX) which operates the diaphragm 256 to disengage the latch 248 when the air pressure drop through the bag 230 exceeds an adjustably pre-selected amount. A nozzle 290 is removably secured to the cleaner unit 210 by means of spring- loaded hook-shaped arms 306 pivotally mounted on the nozzle the arms 306 co-operating with V-notched members 298 secured to the nozzle to engage the pins 244 on the unit; the arms 306 are releasable by pulling a handle 308 connected thereto. The nozzle includes a surface contact plate 312 and a rotatable brush 332 driven by an electric motor 334 and communicates with the conduit 238 of the cover 240 through a flexible conduit 316 and a rigid elbow 318, the latter being secured to the cover 240 by a screw-threaded coupling 320. Electric current for the motor 334 is supplied through releasably interengageable plug and socket members 340 and 344 secured to the elbow 318 and the front cover 240, respectively. Extending from the elbow 318 are arms 324 formed with arcuate slots 326 for engagement by pins 330 carried on the nozzle which has thus limited pivotal movement relative to the cleaner unit 210. The electric current for the motors 224 and 334 is controlled by a manually operable switch 222 which is also automatically opened by movement of a spring loaded rod 348 when the cover 240 is opened. An operating handle 354 is releasably and pivotally secured to the cleaner unit 210, Figs. 13 and 14 (not shown). In a second embodiment, Fig. 16, the nozzle 290 is adapted to move substantially vertically relative to the cleaner unit 210. The elbow 318 is rivetted to a member 402 which is releasably secured to the cover 240 by means of a manually operable spring loaded latching member 424 slidably mounted on the member 402 and having latches 432 and 434 thereon for engaging openings formed in the cover 240. The elbow 318 is a close fit within an inlet 322 of the cover 240. The member 402 has extending therefrom ears 408 and arms 416 provided respectively with slots 410 and 418 for engagement by pins 412 and 420 carried by the nozzle 290. A roller 437 is rotatably mounted in the nozzle 290. In a third embodiment, Figs 5, 6 and 7 (not shown), a front cover is removably secured to a vacuum cleaner unit by spring clips provided on the latter. A nozzle is removably secured to the unit by means of pins rigid with the nozzle engaging in sockets in the unit, the nozzle communicating with an inlet in the unit through a rigid elbow conduit connected to the nozzle and provided with manually releasable catches for engaging a flange on the inlet to couple the elbow conduit to the latter. The nozzle has a bottom plate which may be ribbed to provide gliding surfaces. In each of the three embodiments, the nozzle is replaceable by a flexible hose connected by a pair of rigid wands to a remote nozzle.